Method and apparatus for computer-mediated timed sight reading with assessment

1. An apparatus for use by a user for reading music, the apparatus comprising: a library of music to be displayed; a display unit for displaying music selected from the library to a user; a timer for displaying the sheet music for a predetermined time period before the user begins sight-reading the displayed music; an input for receiving signals representative of sound produced by the user doing a sight-reading performance of the displayed music; and apparatus for assessing correctness of the user's sight-reading and for preserving a record of the user's sight-reading performance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the library of sheet music includes representations of the sheet music in a symbolic format.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user employs the apparatus for academic music study under a teacher's direction, and the predetermined time period before the user begins sight-reading the displayed sheet music is a time period determined by the teacher.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an audio output for providing the use with one of (i) a starting pitch for sight-singing the displayed sheet music, and (ii) preparatory beats for establishing a tempo at which the sight-reading is to be done.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein sheet music to be displayed by the display includes music elements including at least one of pitches and rhythms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for assessing correctness includes a recognition apparatus for recognizing the signals representative of sound produced by the user and received by the audio input, and a comparison apparatus for comparing the sound recognized by the recognition apparatus with the music elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the comparison apparatus determines whether each music element was sight-read correctly or incorrectly, and the display provides visual indicia of incorrectly sight-read musical elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a statistics unit for compiling a statistical assessment of the user's sight-reading performance.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a menu unit for displaying, on the display unit, a menu allowing the user to select music for sight-reading based on at least one of: levels of difficulty of the music to be sight-read, and music elements which are to be sight-read, the music elements including pitches and rhythms.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the library of music includes music for at least one of voice, woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, and an electronic keyboard.

11. A method for configuring an electronic appliance for use as a music sight-reading tool, the electronic appliance including a display, an audio output, and a music signal input, the method comprising: installing a library of music in notated form; installing an educational unit including a music sight-reading assignment for sight-reading a piece of music from the library, the music sight-reading assignment specifying one of (i) a musical instrument and (ii) a singing voice; specifying a predetermined period of time for a user to view the music on the display before beginning to sight-read the music; configuring the electronic appliance to receive an input signal representative of the user's sight-reading performance of the music; and configuring the electronic appliance to assess whether a user's music sight-reading performance correctly matches the piece of music from the library.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the music sight-reading assignment includes specification of at least one of (i) a specified tempo, and (ii) a tonicization in which the music is to be sight-read.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the music sight-reading assignment further includes at least one of (i) a specified audio signal to be output through the audio output of the electronic appliance, for facilitating the user to establish the desired performance tempo, and (ii) a tonicization signal for facilitating the user to establish the desired key in which the music is to be sight-read.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the specification of a tonicization is provided if the music is to be sight-sung by a singer, and omitted if the music is to be sight-read by an instrumentalist.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the music sight-reading assignment includes specification of the predetermined period of time for the user to view the music on the display before beginning to sight-read the music.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, responsive to user selection of a piece of music from the library, displaying instructions and a Start input for the user to activate when the user is ready to begin sight-reading the music, wherein, responsive to user activation of the Start input, the music is displayed for the specified period of time, and then the user is to begin sight-reading the music.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein: the educational unit includes musical elements; and the method includes, for a sight-reading assignment in which one of the musical elements is of interest: (i) selecting music from the library based on which musical elements the music contains, and (ii) enabling or disabling testing based on which music elements are of interest.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising configuring the electronic appliance for providing the user with a visual record of the user's sight-reading performance.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising configuring the electronic appliance for storing results of the user's sight-reading performance, and exporting the results of the user's sight-reading performance, whereby a teacher receiving the exported results can assess the user's sight-reading performance.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising configuring the electronic appliance for displaying music from the library in a symbolic format on the display.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the configuring for displaying music in a symbolic format includes configuring the electronic appliance to display a record of the user's sight-reading performance, with visual indicia of incorrectly sight-read musical elements.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the visual indicia of incorrectly sight-read musical elements are displayed in the symbolic format in which the music is displayed.

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein the library of music includes music for at least one of voice, woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, and keyboard.